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Following the spring hardware updates, today HP announced a range of solutions and enhancements to their mobile printing and print analytics solutions strategies for business. HP is addressing IT needs and end user expectations with these new solutions that attend to security challenges, cost containment, deployment issues, and device lifecycle management that IT struggles with, while also addressing end user wants such as flexibility and device diversity.

Mobile printing has had a storied past with multiple use cases including an app made for the mobile OS to print or sending of the print file to an email address. In this new solution, HP enables printing from the device natively, which removes the need for an app or email workflow. In addition, it will reduce infrastructure such as a dedicated print server to render files.

HP also announced new analytics tools that can further support IT in understanding and optimizing their printer fleet for better performance. As we move into an age of measure and manage, data tools that can actively gather data that aid in predicting and possibly preventing print related issues such as servicing are greatly valued.

HP JetAdvantage Connect enables mobile devices to print from core business devices on the corporate network with a simple, intuitive PC-like print experience, without extra steps like opening a print app or sending an email to the print queue. It is also easier and less expensive for IT to deploy as print job rendering takes place on the mobile device, eliminating the need for a dedicated server, and IT can leverage the same tools used to configure and manage PC-based print infrastructure.

HP also announced enhancements to HP Access Control and HP Print for Chrome app. HP Access Control 15.2 has been updated with support for the latest security protocols and the ability to use pull printing across IT environments with multiple domains. The HP Print for Chrome app enables local network and USB printing from Chrome OS devices to HP printers. The updates to the app are the easy fleet deployment of printing enabled for Education/Enterprise environments with a push app in one step to all end-users by force-app install feature via the Google Admin Console.

Figure 1: HP Access Control 15.2

HP also introduced a set of business intelligence tools to give customers a transparent view of their printer fleet, along with predictive modeling to help prevent potential problems before they occur. These tools empower customers to make informed decisions, in partnership with HP, to ensure that their printer fleet is optimized for productivity, security and cost effectiveness. HP Device Control Center offers interactive fleet management with real time device status, location information, problem identification and resolution, service ticket integration and contracts system data usage. HP Instant Fleet Insights, the new customer portal, delivers enhanced reporting and analytics capabilities, leveraging device data such as service history, firmware versions, fleet composition, and device usage. These tools are available to all HP direct Managed Print Services customers at no additional cost.

HP JetAdvantage Insights is HP’s cloud management tool that provides access to printer fleet data for customers with self-managed or partner-managed print environments, enabling them to maintain their printer fleets with greater efficiency. This powerful tool gathers user insights across all printers and MFPs, while reducing costs by optimizing the user’s environment. It is currently available for US customers with broader availability to come in the future.

With these announcements HP is addressing IT and end user wants and needs to optimize the office environment while reducing costs, and securing workflows. HP is capitalizing on mobile solutions with pull printing to enable workflow improvements, and continuing to focus on expanding the MPS value proposition to include enterprise security. The business intelligence tools bring a high added value to customers, demonstrating HP’s focus on user analytics and ability to help large organizations improve their environments.

This blog will be followed with an in-depth analysis of HP’s announcements. Contact Scott Phinney at scott.phinney@infotrends.com for more information.